solenoid perhaps?

[phurn]

after driving around all day with no issues, i come out of tesco to find a car that wont start =[ ignition comes on fine, then when i pull the start everything dies... completely! for the next 30 seconds i cant do a thing, igntion on/off make sno difference, however after about 30 seconds everything goes back to normal, all electrics work fine... aside from when i pull the start again. battery says a healthy 12.8v with ignition on and off and it starts fine with the handle i suspect it could be solenoid... but any ideas anyone? or ways to test said part?

[mogbob]

It sounds like it is the solenoid that is at fault. contacts sticking.
With the battery disconnected.... check the major cables,battery earth, battery to solenoid,solenoid to starter motor and the actual bolts on the starter motor to the engine are good and tight.Check that the smaller wire , the feed from the ignition switch is a firm clean connection.Re connect the battery.
Put a multi meter, set to volts across the solenoid main cables ,whilst someone operates the starter for you.The voltage drop should be almost zero/ at most half a volt ,if all is well.Anything much higher and the solenoid isn't operating properly.
Replace.

Bob

[MarkyB]

Checking the connections is a very good plan, solenoids very rarely fail, especially pull ones.
Try pushing the button on the solenoid and listening for a sizzling sound, wherever this is coming from is the problem joint, it will also get hot.
If you have the cap type battery terminals replace them with the clamp type as they are useless.

[bmcecosse]

You say 'pull the start' - so that suggests you don't have a solenoid........ Check for loose/bad connections at the battery/pull start/earth cables..

[phurn]

I couldn't find anything obvious, however I popped to the shop just and problem seems to have temporarily fixed itself...... strangeness.

[Declan_Burns]

I had a similar issue (mine is key start) some years back and when I went to replace the solenoid I found it was a bit loose. Tightened it up and the problem was solved. I now have a spare solenoid in the boot.
Regards
Declan

[bmcecosse]

The solenoid does need a good earth to work.